Development Centre & Shadow Squads

Development Centres

Development Centres at Stevenage FC provide children aged 7-16 the opportunity to receive extra technical coaching, in additional to their fun community and grassroots based provision. Players receive one hour of technical coaching per week at either the Stevenage FC Academy or Cheshunt FC, as well as the opportunity to be scouted by the club’s Academy scouts.

The Development Centres are highly suitable for players who want to begin their journey on the club’s Elite Player Pathway and understand as an individual the areas to focus on to help fulfil their potential. Similarly, the Centres are equally as suitable for players who want to receive additional technical development.

Development Centres operate in line with the academic year in term-based blocks with each player receiving a detailed performance report at the end of each block. Pathways are also in place to fast-track suitable players in the Academy’s Centre of Excellence.

Shadow Squads

Stevenage FC operates a Shadow Squad programme for players aged 7-16 with the potential to be Elite players, but who are not yet deemed competent. The Shadow Squad programme is designed to strengthen the Academy infrastructure and provide Academy standard coaching to players that we perceive to be Academy players in the near but not-too-distant future.

Shadow Squad players, who can still play for their local grassroots clubs, receive the following provision which is of the same standard as Academy players to support their developmental needs:

UEFA B candidate / qualifying coaching

Elite Academy based structured session

Elite Academy coaching syllabus

Opportunities to train with and against Academy teams

Clear Player Pathway

Full player based medical cover

Full review process every 6 weeks to feedback to players and parents

1 competitive fixture per 6 week phase to assess development and progression